KANDY (Sri Lanka): Opener Ibrahim Zadran‘s glowing century and 4 wickets by Fazalhaq Farooqi led Afghanistan to an emphatic 60-run win over Sri Lanka within the opening one-day worldwide on Friday.
Afghanistan posted 294-8 after electing to bat as Ibrahim, who hit 106, placed on key partnerships, together with a 118-run second-wicket stand with Rahmat Shah, who made 52, in Pallekele.
Afghanistan’s Farooqi and fellow fast Gulbadin Naib shared seven wickets between them because the vacationers bowled out Sri Lanka for 234.
Pathum Nissanka‘s 85 and a threatening 66 by Wanindu Hasaranga went in useless as Afghanistan ended the Sri Lankan innings in 38 overs.
But it was the batting that set the tone for Afghanistan’s domination within the first ever bilateral ODI sequence between the 2 groups.
Ibrahim led the cost along with his second ODI century and Najibullah Zadran’s 25-ball 42 boosted the overall however some disciplined bowling ultimately checked Afghanistan, who regarded like getting over 300.
“The pitch was good for batting, I read the surface and took my time, and it worked,” man of the match Ibrahim stated.
“The track remained the same throughout, we wanted to get to 320, that was the plan. Our bowlers did a great job.”
Rahmanullah Gurbaz justified captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s choice to bat first as he hit a flurry of boundaries in his 53.
Ibrahim joined the assault as the 2 placed on 84 runs to set the tone for the batting cost.
Cameos from Najibullah and Naib, who made 22 off 24 balls, took on the bowlers ultimately however Sri Lanka gave away simply 31 runs within the closing 5 overs and took 5 wickets.
Hasaranga returned spectacular figures of 2-42 in his 10 overs.
The hosts began briskly however common wickets harm their progress with Naib selecting two to rattle the top-order.
Nissanka reached his fifty in 42 balls and placed on 47 runs with skipper Dasun Shanaka, who fell to Naib.
Farooqi denied Nissanka his ton however Hasaranga quickly hit again to lift hopes of a turnaround.
He smashed Mohammad Nabi for a six and 4 fours in a 22-run 31st over and raised his fifty in 31 balls.
Wickets stored falling and Hasaranga was the final man out to Farooqi, who completed with figures of 4-49.
“The difference between the two sides was the partnerships. Their side batted around Ibrahim and had three partnerships,” stated Shanaka. “We had starts but couldn’t convert it.”
The loss dented Sri Lanka’s probabilities of a direct qualification to the 50-over World Cup in India subsequent yr with essential Super League factors up for grabs within the sequence.
Shanaka stated Sri Lanka have to “win three out of (remaining) five games (for World Cup qualification) and we’re looking forward to that.”
The second match is on Sunday on the similar venue.
Afghanistan posted 294-8 after electing to bat as Ibrahim, who hit 106, placed on key partnerships, together with a 118-run second-wicket stand with Rahmat Shah, who made 52, in Pallekele.
Afghanistan’s Farooqi and fellow fast Gulbadin Naib shared seven wickets between them because the vacationers bowled out Sri Lanka for 234.
Pathum Nissanka‘s 85 and a threatening 66 by Wanindu Hasaranga went in useless as Afghanistan ended the Sri Lankan innings in 38 overs.
But it was the batting that set the tone for Afghanistan’s domination within the first ever bilateral ODI sequence between the 2 groups.
Ibrahim led the cost along with his second ODI century and Najibullah Zadran’s 25-ball 42 boosted the overall however some disciplined bowling ultimately checked Afghanistan, who regarded like getting over 300.
“The pitch was good for batting, I read the surface and took my time, and it worked,” man of the match Ibrahim stated.
“The track remained the same throughout, we wanted to get to 320, that was the plan. Our bowlers did a great job.”
Rahmanullah Gurbaz justified captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s choice to bat first as he hit a flurry of boundaries in his 53.
Ibrahim joined the assault as the 2 placed on 84 runs to set the tone for the batting cost.
Cameos from Najibullah and Naib, who made 22 off 24 balls, took on the bowlers ultimately however Sri Lanka gave away simply 31 runs within the closing 5 overs and took 5 wickets.
Hasaranga returned spectacular figures of 2-42 in his 10 overs.
The hosts began briskly however common wickets harm their progress with Naib selecting two to rattle the top-order.
Nissanka reached his fifty in 42 balls and placed on 47 runs with skipper Dasun Shanaka, who fell to Naib.
Farooqi denied Nissanka his ton however Hasaranga quickly hit again to lift hopes of a turnaround.
He smashed Mohammad Nabi for a six and 4 fours in a 22-run 31st over and raised his fifty in 31 balls.
Wickets stored falling and Hasaranga was the final man out to Farooqi, who completed with figures of 4-49.
“The difference between the two sides was the partnerships. Their side batted around Ibrahim and had three partnerships,” stated Shanaka. “We had starts but couldn’t convert it.”
The loss dented Sri Lanka’s probabilities of a direct qualification to the 50-over World Cup in India subsequent yr with essential Super League factors up for grabs within the sequence.
Shanaka stated Sri Lanka have to “win three out of (remaining) five games (for World Cup qualification) and we’re looking forward to that.”
The second match is on Sunday on the similar venue.